THE COMPUTER TRANSITION SYSTEMS REPORT

May/June 1997

CONTENTS

WINTERACTER - Windows visual design tools and graphics library for Fortran 90
INTERACTER 4.05
LF90 VERSION 3.5
UPGRADING F77LEM/32 to LF90
POWERSTATION TO LF90 - special upgrade pricing
ABSOFT FORTRAN 90 FOR WINDOWS
REALWIN - generates windows interfaces for LF90
TECPLOT VERSION 7
TECPLOT VERSION 8
GINO NEWS
VAST/77TO90 - F77 to F90 translator now available for the PC
C TO FORTRAN TRANSLATOR
TLIB for Windows
FORTRAN PERIODICALS
PlusFORT for WINDOWS95/NT - a power tool for F77 to F90 translation
CPU CHIP PERFORMANCE - an update

WINTERACTER - Windows visual design tools and graphics library for Fortran 90
On 30 May Interactive Systems plans to release WINTERACTER, a Win32 user-interface/graphics tool for Fortran 90 developers. Derived from their popular cross-platform INTERACTER product, it provides visual design tools for Windows menus and dialogs, plus an easy to use subroutine library. Existing INTERACTER users can reuse their graphics and operating system interface code with WINTERACTER. A tool is also provided to convert INTERACTER forms to Windows dialogs. The price for Lahey, Salford, Microsoft and DEC (Intel and Alpha) compilers is $990. Existing Windows/INTERACTER users can obtain WINTERACTER at the preferential price of $560 until September 30^th. For other INTERACTER users the preferential price is $775 until September 30^th. A brochure which outlines the features of WINTERACTER accompanies this newsletter.

INTERACTER 4.05
ISS have just released INTERACTER 4.05 which adds a selection of minor enhancements, including a file editor routine, a get-pixel colour routine, improved hardcopy colour handling, HP-GL & WMF files are now MS Word compatible, faster Win32 graphics, a copy file function, a guide to exporting INTERACTER graphics to various WP/DTP packages, Fortran 90 versions of all example programs, a black-on-white graphics option and a WMF replay facility under Windows. The demo disk for version 4.05 is now available.

LF90 Version 3.5
Accompanying this newsletter is the April issue of the Lahey newsletter, "Fortran Source". In it is an extensive description of the new facilities in the latest release of their Fortran 90 compiler, LF90. The principal new features are inclusion of Polyhedron Software's excellent Automake tool, support in ED for compilation and error parsing under Windows NT 3.5 and most 4.0 installations, improved access to the Windows API, major enhancements to the LISK graphics and user interface routines, more Delphi interface examples, new documentation (on CD), and CD is now the primary distribution media. If Service Pack 2 (SP 2) for NT version 4 is installed you cannot compile LF90 from within ED. In this situation the only option at present is to exit ED to carry out compilation or else uninstall SP 2 (Microsoft supplies an uninstall program with SP 2). Lahey are actively working on a resolution to the SP 2 incompatibility.
Upgrades to version 3.5 are $200 from version 3.0, $340 from version 2 and $475 from version 1.

UPGRADING F77LEM/32 to LF90
Those who have F77LEM/32, may obtain LF90 at significantly reduced prices - $950, $775 for academic purchases. Shipping is $10 extra. To qualify you must quote your F77LEM/32 serial number on your order.

POWERSTATION TO LF90 - special upgrade pricing
In view of the demise of the Microsoft PowerStation Fortran compiler, Lahey has made a special offer. Current users may upgrade their compiler to LF90 at the dramatically reduced price of $550 until June 15. Shipping is $10. To qualify you must send us a photocopy of the back of your CD case which includes your unique 'CD Key" number. One special price upgrade can be obtained for each copy of PowerStation.
In a recent newsgroup posting Ralph Frisbie noted that "97 entries related to PowerStation 4 on Microsoft's own known bug list in its tech support area". One of the major benefits people will find when they switch to LF90 is proper support. Lahey guarantee resolution of Fortran 90 bugs within 60 days of them being reported. No longer do users have to wait for the next compiler release and hope that their bug will be resolved. A "patch" system is used in LF90. A single disk, down loadable from the Lahey web site (and our page of Lahey patches), can be used to bring any release of the current version of LF90 up to date. New patch files appear approximately every 3 or 4 weeks.
Lahey continually resolves reported bugs in LF90 for the duration of the life of the current version.

ABSOFT FORTRAN 90 FOR WINDOWS
In May or June Absoft expects to release its Pro Fortran v5.0 compiler. It is a native 32-bit Windows95/NT application. A complete 32-bit Fortran development system for Win3.1 (Win32s) is also included. Applications generated with Pro Fortran can run under WinNT, Win95, or Win3.1 (Win32s). Included in the package are three separate but link compatible compilers - a complete Fortran 90 based on the Cray Research compiler, a Fortran 77 compiler which handles a wide range of VAX and workstation extensions, and a C/C++ compiler. The latter simplifies the problem of using mixed language programming. The compilers are also all link compatible with Microsoft C/C++ and Visual Basic (32 bit). All provide full support for the Win32 API and can automatically build DLLs.
The Fortran 90 compiler is source compatible with Cray's CF90 v1.0 and 2.0. It also supports almost all extensions in Lahey LF90.
Pro Fortran is 32 bit software for direct operation with Windows NT, 95, or 3.1(by means of the supplied Win32s). Included with Pro Fortran is SuperPlot 2D and 3D which generates presentation graphs. It also provides support for Microsoft Fortran graphics and direct drawing using the Win32 API directly. Pro Fortran is OpenGL compatible.
Pro Fortran is a complete Fortran development system including a single GUI which drives all three compilers, a linker, a language sensitive (F90, F77, C, C++) editor, source level debugger (supports F90, F77, C, C++ ), a smart linker, and a Fortran source code analyser..
Pro Fortran requires Windows 3.1, 95 or NT, 16 MB RAM (minimum), a CD drive, and 50 MB of hard disk (for a complete installation).
Pro Fortran is $1210 or $1499 with the IMSL library (complete v3.0 mainframe math and stat libraries). Online help but no printed documentation is provided for IMSL. Until 1 October 1997 introductory pricing of $460 ($740 with IMSL) is available to those who have any Fortran compiler for INTEL based PCs. Purchasers must provide a copy of the manual cover, diskette, CD, or registration card. Educational institutions may purchase at the introductory pricing even if they are not upgrading an existing product.

REALWIN - generates Windows interfaces for LF90
RealWin is a subroutine library which allows users of LF90 version 3.0 (and above) to easily incorporate a true Windows interface into their programs. Most of the details of handling Windows messages, menues, dialog boxes, etc. are done automatically with RealWin routines. The beta version is now available ($540). An outline of RealWin capabilities is provided on http://pw2.netcom.com/~bmbush/index.html or else contact Computer Transition Systems. We can also supply a demo disk which illustrates some of the capability of RealWin.

TECPLOT VERSION 7
Tecplot is a state of the art technical data visualization package. Anyone who studies complex three dimensional data sets or needs to plot complex technical diagrams will find Tecplot one of the most useful pieces of software they can acquire. Version 7 of Tecplot for UNIX first appeared in September 1996. Tecplot for Windows was released in February. Those who were due free upgrades to version 7 should have received them by now. Those who are using version 6 should give strong consideration to upgrading to version 7. It provides a major enhancement both in ease of use and in capability. The main features were outlined in our last newsletter NOVEMBER 1996.
Amtec has begun to publish TecViews, a quarterly newsletter for Tecplot users. The first issue, which is available from us on request, contains a macro for generating linked views whereby changes in one Tecplot window (or frame) can be automatically copied to all other frames which are "like" it. This and other handy macros can be downloaded from the Amtec web site. (http://www.amtec.com ).
With version 7 there is a network version of the PC Tecplot. Although restricted to the designated number of users it does have the major advantage that any machine on the network can access Tecplot. Previously a PC Tecplot was restricted to a single computer. PC Tecplot prices are:

Substantial discounts are provided for orders on university purchase orders.

TECPLOT VERSION 8
Now that Tecplot version 7 has been released for all platforms Amtec is actively engaged in planning version 8. Tecplot users should send their suggestions for additional facilities directly to Amtec. They are particularly interested in features which would be of immediate use rather than those that just seem like a good idea.

GINO NEWS
Bradly Associates now advise that run time royalties will no longer apply to the PC versions of GINO. Linux versions of the C and Fortran libraries are available and are the same price as the PC versions. The library bundle for C ($1775) now includes GINOGRAF and GINOSURF as well as the standard GINO-F. The Windows versions of the libraries now include BMP, DXF, and WMF drivers. Bradly has also introduced a very attractive "Transfer Discount" whereby only 20% of the new price applies if a user changes from one compiler to another on the same class of hardware. This should be of particular interest to those who are moving from Fortran 77 compilers to Fortran 90 compilers. The Bundle GINO Library for Fortran ($2999) includes GINO-F, GINOGRAF, GINOMENU, and GINOSURF.
GINOMENU - Bradly has released GINOMENU for Windows, a library containing 115 routines for accessing the Windows API. True Windows applications can be quickly and easily produced using GINOMENU for Windows. A Window containing two buttons can be created with just sixteen lines of Fortran code. Some graphics routines from the main GINO-F library have been packaged into GINOMENU for Windows so simple graphics can be programmed with the product. The Price of GINOMENU for Windows is $1025. It is available for LF90, FTN77, FTN90 and PowerStation V4.
MENUGEN - a GUI design tool for Fortran using Visual Basic - Fortran software developers using GINOMENU (see preceding article) can use Visual Basic to create and lay out their GUI and then use MENUGEN to convert from the Visual Basic form text file to GINOMENU Fortran source. All the popular Visual Basic GUI facilities - buttons, check boxes, text boxes, scroll bars and menu pull-downs can be used. Visual Basic is used only as a drag and drop tool and no VB source code is needed so all the problems of calling routines from Basic to Fortran are eliminated. MENUGEN is $165.

VAST/77to90 - F77 to F90 translator now available for the PC.
VAST/77to90 translates existing Fortran 77 programs to clean and efficient Fortran 90. Features include generation of new source form, removal of obsolete features, elimination or reduction of GOTOs and labels, generation of array syntax in place of loops, creation of MODULEs from COMMONs, automatic generation of interface blocks and extensive error diagnostics. VAST/77to90 is available for MSDOS, UNIX work-stations, and VMS. It is "metered" software - translation of up to 2,500 lines (in total) is $190, 5,000 lines is $350, 10,000 lines is $610 and 100,000 lines is $2230.

C to Fortran Translator
A public domain translator from C to Fortran is being developed by a David Frank. It can be obtained from ftp://members.aol.com/DaveGemini/test.

TLIB for Windows
Burton Systems Software has now officially released a full Windows version (3.1, 95 and NT) of their very powerful but easy to use version control system. Those who do extensive software development should really be using automatic version control. TLIB is the fastest and most flexible version control system on the market. The single user price is $330. A five user licence is $1250. TLIB can be used for very large projects - 100 developers or more!

FORTRAN PERIODICALS
There appear to be only two periodicals devoted to Fortran. One is the Fortran Journal and the other is Fortran Forum. The first 1997 issue of Fortran Journal is now available on the web at http://www.fortran.com/fortran/journals.htm.
Fortran Forum is produced by the Fortran section of the ACM. The editor is Loren Meisner, a well known Fortran figure. A subscription to Fortran Forum for non ACM members is $20 per year. To subscribe send a note saying "I want to subscribe to Fortran Forum" to ACM Members Services, 1515 Broadway, 17^th Floor, New York, NY 10036, U.S.A. The most convenient form of payment is credit card - they accept both VISA and Mastercard. You need to provide the card number, expiry date, and sign your note.

PlusFORT for Windows 95/NT - a power tool for F77 to F90 translation
A major new release of plusFORT ($3080 for Windows95/NT, $4400 for UNIX workstations) is scheduled for June 97. This new version will add comprehensive facilities for translation of Fortran 77 and VAX Fortran to Fortran 90. In addition, a new Windows front-end will be available for the NT version. All purchasers of version 5.23 or later will receive a free upgrade to version 6. The new features include:-
o Translation of Numeric types initialized with Hollerith or character constants to CHARACTER type.
o Translation of VAX style structures to Fortran 90.
o Creation of explicit Fortran 90 procedure interfaces for all SUBROUTINEs and FUNCTIONs.
o Replacement COMMON blocks and INCLUDE files by Fortran 90 modules.
o Translation of MS style allocatable arrays to Fortran 90.
o Translation of VAX types such as BYTE and DOUBLE COMPLEX to Fortran 90. (Note that SPAG already translates non-standard Fortran 77 types ).

CPU CHIP PERFORMANCE - an update
A revision of the table which appeared in the July/August 1996 Computer Transition Systems Report follows. Performance improvements in many cpu chips have been reported and the MMX Pentium CPU has been added to the list. Interestingly all the various RISC chips seem to have about the same maximum performance.

SPEC FP95 is a floating point benchmark resulting from timing the execution of ten Fortran programs and so can be expected to have some relevance to those interested in Fortran performance. The original results may be found on http://open.specbench.org/osg/cpu95/results/.

Updated 12 May 1997